Hoops look: North Texas at Troy
January 02, 2008
GAMEDAY LINKS
Dothan Eagle: Troy hosts North Texas.
Denton Record-Chronicle: UNT freshman OK with lack of attention; Mean Green blog
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What: North Texas (9-3, 0-1 Sun Belt) at Troy (6-6, 0-2)
When: 7:30 p.m. CST Jan. 3
Where: Trojan Arena, Troy (4,000)
Last time out: Troy fell to Western Kentucky 94-90. North Texas beat Texas A&M-International 97-70.
Probable starting lineups
TROY
G-Jerome Odem (6’1, 160, Sr.) - 6.9
G-O’Darien Bassett (6’2, 190, Sr.) - 18.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg
F-Justin Jonus (6’6, 221, Sr.) - 13.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg
F-Trayce Macon (6’8, 191, Soph.) - 8.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg
F-Jarvis Acker (6’6, 210, Sr.) - 6.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg
NORTH TEXAS
G-Josh White (5’10, 167, Fr.) 16.6 ppg, 56.4 3pt percentage
G-Ben Bell (6’3, 190, Sr.) 8.6 ppg
G-Collin Dennis(6’2, 185, Jr.) 12.9 ppg, 48.5 3pt percentage
F-Keith Wooden(6’9, 245, Sr.) 11.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg
F-Quincy Williams (6’8, 230, Sr.) 8.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg
What to watch for: Troy has beaten all but two Sun Belt teams in Sun Belt play, but one was UL-Monroe in a game where the Warhawks had a fluke late comeback. The other is North Texas, and it hasn’t been close. The Mean Green have been incredibly mean to the Men of Troy. Some great players are gone from the last two years, but the biggest advantage UNT has is down low with forwards Keith Wooden and Quincy Williams. It’s just not even close when you compare the frontcourts between the two and don’t be shocked to see UNT have a 25-rebound advantage. UNT did lose a surprise game at Denver by four, but the change in altitude causes a few teams with more talent than Denver to lose at Denver.
Troy is 0-2 in Sun Belt play just like last year. North Texas was the Sun Belt’s NCAA Tournament representative last year.
Player to watch, Troy: O’Darien Bassett. The 6-foot-2 senior scored a career-high 36 in a 4-point loss to Western Kentucky last Saturday. He’s playing at a very high level right now and is worth the price of admission. He’ll need to keep playing like that for Troy to have a chance.
Player to watch, UNT: Josh White. The 5-foot-10 scoring guard is the frontrunner for Sun Belt Freshman of the Year.
Troy will win if: The Trojans get very hot from the outside and/or UNT’s forwards get in some foul trouble.
UNT will win if: The Mean Green dominate the boards and attack the press like Western Kentucky did.
Drew’s prediction: It’s like picking against Arkansas State in football. It needs to happen before I do it. UNT 86-78
